Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Pointing

“My pregnancy didn’t happen instantly.”

Bai Ying looked at the narcissus, her hand stroking her chin, seemingly speaking to Zhang Ze, yet also seeming to be talking to herself.

“Why didn’t it activate at other times, but only that day?”

Since returning from the traveling palace, the events of that night had been gradually forgotten by everyone.

Or rather, they attributed it to the Empress Jiang faction’s schemes, and it was no longer a surprise.

But she hadn’t forgotten, and she didn’t believe it was the Empress Jiang faction’s doing.

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that it was Bai Li’s doing.

Those questions, especially the one asking her what she wrote in the second letter, the Empress Jiang’s ghost wouldn’t ask, because Empress Jiang herself knew.

Bai Ying’s hands clenched in front of her.

From the beginning, it wasn’t aimed at the imperial heir, it was aimed at her, her younger sister had really come.

What was different about that night before the nightmare compared to other times?

Since she had attracted the Emperor’s attention in the Cold Palace and he had indeed taken pity on her and privately visited her, her daily life hadn’t changed much.

Apart from eating better, living better, and having an additional eunuch guarding her.

His Majesty hadn’t come again, he had to consider the Empress, he had to consider the court officials, she was just a beautiful consort with an awkward status.

Beauty, in the imperial harem, was not a rare commodity.

However, she understood the Emperor, knew he was cowardly and suspicious, such a person was actually very nostalgic, so she waited for the next opportunity.

Every day she ate, sat idly, picked flowers, made silk flowers……

Silk flowers.

The Empress had brought her out of the Cold Palace.

Bai Ying suddenly sat up straight.

“The Empress,” she said.

Zhang Ze’s eyes narrowed: “You’re saying, Empress Jiang’s haunting is related to the Empress?” He didn’t wait for Bai Ying to speak again, he shook his head slightly, his expression somewhat meaningful, “Your Ladyship, it’s a bit inappropriate to move against the Empress now, wait a little longer.”

Bai Ying glared at him: “That’s not what I meant.” She stood up as she spoke, approaching Zhang Ze, “I’m saying that before Empress Jiang’s haunting, something different from the usual happened, the Empress brought me out of the Cold Palace.”

Zhang Ze let out an “oh,” that matter.

Indeed, they had originally thought it would take some time to find another opportunity for the Emperor to see Bai Ying, but they didn’t expect the Empress to deliver the opportunity herself.

The Emperor had just visited Consort Bai, feeling both nostalgic and hesitant, the Empress doing this was undoubtedly challenging the Emperor’s authority, and the Emperor immediately came to uphold it.

But what did this have to do with Empress Jiang’s haunting?

Even if the Empress had gone mad, she wouldn’t get involved with the Empress Jiang faction, the Empress, was a foolish woman whose head was only filled with being husband and wife with the Emperor.

“Didn’t those ritual specialists say that even if the person isn’t present, they can perform the ritual, but there must be a borrowed object?” Bai Ying said.

Zhang Ze came back to his senses: “You mean…..”

“I’ve been in the Cold Palace, never had contact with outside objects.” Bai Ying looked at Zhang Ze, “Only that time, in the Empress’s Palace, when she had me identify the palace flower.”

Zhang Ze hadn’t paid attention to this small matter at the time, but he instantly recalled it, and at the same time understood what Bai Ying was referring to, saying: “That fake palace flower.”

That’s right, it must have been that fake palace flower, it was the borrowed object used by the Empress Jiang faction for their ritual!

“Actually, I had the nightmare after coming into contact with the fake palace flower.” Bai Ying said, clenching her hand, seemingly still frightened as she recalled it.

The first dream was also a nightmare, her sister looked at her like that in the dream, but because it was brief, and she was only looking, she quickly woke up and didn’t think much of it, until the second dream, the dream was long, the content terrifying……

As she recalled this, Bai Ying’s face was still a bit pale.

“That fake palace flower must have a problem,” she said, “My sister must have arrived too, these illusions are not Empress Jiang’s ghost haunting at all, it’s her doing.”

“You said earlier that your sister was born under an unlucky star…..” Zhang Ze hesitated.

“I also said earlier, she can make people go mad, make people have nightmares, make people see ghosts, make a perfectly good person suddenly jump into a well and die.” Bai Ying interrupted him urgently, “She’s a jinx, a monster!”

Yes, Bai Ying had said such things, but because Bai Ying was pregnant at the time, coupled with the Imperial Bell’s strange movements, they only thought it was Empress Jiang’s ghost haunting, of course, he didn’t believe in ghosts, he thought it was the Empress Jiang faction’s doing.

As for Bai Ying’s description of her sister, he only considered her to be someone with bad luck and didn’t take it seriously.

The wanted posters had been issued for a long time, and no one had reported any news.

If she had really arrived in the capital and had done so many things, he had underestimated this younger daughter of the Bai family.

That fake palace flower from before, was from a maid of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, no, to be precise, it should be a maid from the Duke of Ding’an’s Residence.

The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir, this former in-law, was unwilling to accept the situation and deliberately framed Zhou Jingyun’s new wife.

The female official who brought the maid in was also a distant relative of the Madam of Ding’an, and had been given a lot of money and land deeds.

After the incident, the maid was immediately killed by the female official, and the Duke of Ding’an’s family hurriedly left the capital.

To him, this was a small matter, he even did Zhou Jingyun a favor and didn’t pursue the investigation further.

Now it seemed, this scheme wasn’t aimed at Zhou Jingyun’s new wife, but at sending a cursed object into the palace.

The maid died swiftly, the Duke of Ding’an’s family left quickly, clearly the scheme had succeeded, they had escaped.

Zhang Ze bowed: “This subject will go investigate immediately.”

After saying that, he turned and strode away.

Bai Ying followed behind: “Think carefully, investigate thoroughly, don’t let anyone from the Duke of Ding’an’s Residence off, don’t let her escape again.” She added another warning, “Don’t alert her, let her remain unaware that we’ve guessed it.”

Zhang Ze didn’t turn back, only waved his hand to indicate he understood.

Bai Ying stood at the doorway, watching him leave.

Wang Degui hurriedly supported her: “Your Ladyship, don’t go out, it’s cold outside.”

Bai Ying didn’t go out again, watching Zhang Ze walk away, then lowering her head, looking at her already bulging belly.

She reached out and gently caressed it.

Some people, are just born unlucky, they shouldn’t be alive.

Now she had climbed to a height she had never reached before, no one could ruin her good fortune!

“The Princess has arrived.”

Wang Degui suddenly said.

Bai Ying looked up and saw Princess Jinyu slowly approaching, followed by two people as always.

However, unlike before, the attendants behind her weren’t handsome young men, but two old men with gray hair.

How strange.

Princess Jinyu had a perverse temperament, when the late Emperor was still alive, she once whipped a passerby on the street, just because she disliked the passerby’s ugliness passing before her eyes.

Of course, some beauties were still beautiful when they were old, but, as they approached, no matter how you looked at them, these two old men were definitely not handsome when they were young, let alone beautiful in their old age.

Bai Ying joked inwardly, was Princess Jinyu deliberately showing this to the Emperor?

✿✿✿

Previously, because of the rumors from the monks at Lingquan Temple, Princess Jinyu had been reprimanded by the Emperor and punished with confinement, she wasn’t allowed out until the Imperial Heaven Worship Ceremony, and even after arriving at the traveling palace, the Emperor didn’t summon Princess Jinyu as he had before.

So Princess Jinyu now went out without handsome young men, only with old and decrepit ones, was it to show the Emperor, that in the future, no one would say she was debauched.

Bai Ying couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, and also felt mocking.

This kind of stupid woman, was just born noble, didn’t have to pay anything, and became a noble.

Princess Jinyu slowly approached and also saw Bai Ying standing by the door.

This was the Imperial Study, the outer hall where the Emperor discussed state affairs with his officials.

Even the Empress couldn’t easily set foot here.

At this moment, Bai Ying stood here, although not adorned with gold and silver, not piled with jewels, but the tiles and bricks of the Imperial Study were all adding luster and brilliance to her.

Princess Jinyu sneered inwardly, only the Emperor believed that his consort was a timid and pitiful little thing.

This woman, relying on her pregnancy, would sooner or later scheme for power and replace the Empress.

Meeting Princess Jinyu’s gaze, Bai Ying hurriedly lowered her head, one hand caressing her belly, and curtsied with Wang Degui’s support: “Greetings, Princess.”

According to Princess Jinyu’s usual behavior, she didn’t even see these consorts, they were just the Emperor’s playthings.

Even the Empress was addressed by her name, and she often said she was her maid.

As for her, a consort of ordinary birth, now with the status of a criminal’s daughter, Princess Jinyu wouldn’t even glance at her.

But just as she lowered her head, she heard Princess Jinyu’s voice.

“No need for formalities.”

Bai Ying thought she had misheard, and raised her head in surprise.

Princess Jinyu looked at her, sizing her up from head to toe, although her eyes couldn’t hide her arrogance, she actually said: “It’s cold outside, don’t stand by the door.”

Bai Ying hurriedly curtsied and replied “Yes,” flustered and timid: “Princess, please come inside…….”

Before she could finish speaking, Princess Jinyu had already walked away.

Although most of the flustered and timid act was fake, Bai Ying was really dumbfounded, Princess Jinyu actually greeted her, and even seemed to care about her being cold……

Had this woman gone mad?

Or was it because of…..the baby in her belly?

Bai Ying looked down at her own abdomen, then saw Princess Jinyu had already entered the Imperial Study next door, she hurriedly turned and went inside.

Wang Degui panicked and hurriedly followed: “My Lady, slow down.”

Bai Ying shushed him, walking behind the screen, there was a small door here leading to the Imperial Study, although it was tightly closed at the moment, but by sticking close to the door, she could hear the voices coming from the Imperial Study.

“……I’m busy right now, Princess, come back later, or if you have anything, go to the inner palace and speak to the Empress.”

The Emperor’s voice was indifferent, it seemed he still hadn’t forgiven Princess Jinyu, or had made up his mind to no longer indulge her.

“…..Your Majesty, please allow me to introduce two people, then I will take my leave immediately.”

Princess Jinyu didn’t react as she usually did, getting angry and shouting, or questioning their sibling bond with grievances upon hearing the Emperor’s cold words, but her voice was calm.

Introduce two people? Princess Jinyu often recommended those handsome men who sought her patronage for official positions, but they were all minor officials, not requiring the Emperor’s approval.

Now, for these two ugly and old men, she actually wanted to ask the Emperor for official positions? Bai Ying leaned closer, then heard the two old men’s voices kowtowing to the Emperor, and the next moment, there was the sound of a memorial falling to the ground, accompanied by the Emperor’s exclamation, “It’s Master Zhang—”

And the other officials sitting in the hall also exclaimed, “It’s Duke Zheng—”

The hall instantly became boisterous.

“Master Zhang, Teacher, this student thought I would never see you again.”

“And Duke Zheng, you are still alive, that Demon Empress sent people to kill you on the road to exile, I issued decrees to search for you for many years, but there was no response, I thought you had been murdered.”

“Your Majesty, this old man also thought I would never see you again—”

…….

…….

The commotion in the Imperial Study continued like boiling water, with officials rushing in from time to time, bringing a new wave of excitement.

Bai Ying no longer eavesdropped at the door, she sat on a folding stool, eating her sweet soup while listening to Wang Degui relay the news.

“…..The Inspector General said, Master Zhang’s name is Zhang Qi, from the Quzhou Zhang clan, his grandfather was skilled in calligraphy and painting, Master Zhang was invited by the late Emperor to teach calligraphy and painting to the princes, later, because he criticized the late Emperor’s extravagance, he was expelled by the late Emperor, and his whereabouts have been unknown since.”

“…This Duke Zheng, is even more extraordinary, he served as the Vice Minister of the Secretariat during the late Emperor’s reign, he opposed making Jiang Mian’er the Empress, and was framed by the Jiang Mian’er faction, dismissed from office, and exiled, it was said he was killed on the road to exile, but in fact, he changed his name and was hidden by his old friends.”

After listening to Wang Degui, Bai Ying nodded: “I understand.”

The Princess was offering virtuous officials to the Emperor, she looked towards the next room, her expression surprised, Princess Jinyu actually had this kind of thought?!

The next room was lively and noisy, she could hear the voices intermittently without having to stick to the door.

The woman’s voice was even more prominent among them.

“Since I was born, I have enjoyed the late Emperor’s favor, and now I am respected by Your Majesty, but I have achieved nothing, as a princess, I only bring shame to the imperial family.”

Were these words really spoken by Princess Jinyu? Had she gone mad!

More seemingly crazy words continued to come through.

“I know that Your Majesty, like the late Emperor, shows me favor and tolerance, but I can no longer act recklessly relying on favor, our siblings have gone through many hardships, now only I am by your side, and I only have you, I have dismissed those attendants at home, reformed myself, and will not disgrace the name of a Great Zhou Princess, will not disgrace Your Majesty’s title of ‘Imperial Elder Sister’.”

Along with Princess Jinyu’s words, the voices of those two old officials were also full of emotion.

“…..This old man didn’t expect that the Princess would stand outside my house for three days, in the freezing cold.”

“….The Princess knew that I had taken in many orphans who were displaced because of the Demon Empress’s case over the years, to relieve me of my worries, she donated to build a charity hall, and directly purchased enough rice, grain, and cloth for three years’ worth of food and clothing.”

“…..The Princess is truly different from what I remember, it seems that with the Demon Empress eliminated and Your Majesty’s new reign, we have no more doubts and rushed here to see Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s loud laughter came through.

Bai Ying had been with him for many years, and could tell that this laughter came from genuine happiness.

“We have all experienced displacement and hardship, now we have finally escaped the sea of suffering, and I have regained virtuous officials, our nation will surely be peaceful!”

“Someone, prepare a banquet, I will celebrate this prosperous age with my officials.”

A chorus of “Long live” rang out in the Imperial Study.

Bai Ying stirred the sweet soup in her hand, her expression turning serious.

Princess Jinyu had turned over a new leaf and wanted to be virtuous, who taught her?

What was her intention?

This was not something to be happy about.

She didn’t want to see another powerful woman in Great Zhou.

Except for herself.